Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Sorry for the wait. This is mostly the start of the wizarding world introduction and the beginning of the changes but the specifics of what happened when he was sent back is still a ways off.
No matter how many times I can recall walking into Diagon Alley, its just as impressive as that very first time. There was no acting required as I stared around the alley in wonder. Witches and wizards were bustling around, many of them with their children, from shop to shop without a care in the world other than whatever they needed to shop for. There was no tension in the air or fear clogging the air. This was the way that the alley should have always stayed and will if I have any say in it.
"Well young man, your school supplies won't buy themselves." The look on Tom's face was one of amusement and a touch of wistfulness. "You should head to that rather tall white building down the way, it's the wizarding bank called Gringotts. The Goblins can exchange any muggle money you have so you can get all of your supplies. They're a little scary at first but they know what their doing."
"Thank you very much sir." I managed a quick little bow before running off toward Gringotts without a second glance backwards. As long as I am stuck in the body of a child, I might as well make the most of it.
Years of avoiding Dudley and Death Eaters made dodging flighty wizards and witches rather simple and more than a bit entertaining and it took very little time to reach the stairs of Gringotts in all their glory. I never could get over how the goblins made the building look like it was about to topple over and yet it was the strongest building in the alley. Most of the wizards and witches making their way into the bank glance once at the poem on the side of the doors, once at the goblin guards and then headed right into the bank without looking anywhere other than the floor. I stood still for several moments just watching witches and wizards shuffle into the bank before walking up to the doors, bowing lightly to the goblin guards and entering the bank.
Everything on the inside was every bit as opulent as it had been the first time through. Every wall was coated with gold and precious gems were placed into the walls and furniture with an amazing amount of spells to keep them from getting scratched or stolen by a less than intelligent wizard. The goblins were each at their stations, counting gems and money while intimidating any wizards or witches that 'interrupted' their work.
I had to almost run to get up to the nearest free goblin and waited patiently for him to acknowledge me, it wasn't long at all before he sat the gems to the side and gave me his full attention. "What can I do for you today?"
"I am going into my first year at Hogwarts and I would like to get money out of my vault but I do not have the key nor have I ever even seen it." The goblin seemed rather put out at that, no goblin liked to hear that one of their customers did not have their key, it was a matter of pride that only the vault bearer was given a key.
"Name please?" The goblin pulled out a rather unique looking rolodex and looked at me impatiently.
"Harrison James Potter." The goblin's hand stilled on the rolodex and his eyes widened as he leaned heavily over the counter to get a better look at me. I moved the hair from in front of the oh so famous scar and he leaned back in shock.
"Mr. Potter there is obviously much that needs to be discussed and I am sure that your account manager will have much to answer to." The goblin spoke lowly and gestured to a very large, ornate gold door. "If you head through this door and open the door at the very end you will be in the office of the head of Gringotts, he will be able to sort out this 'oversight'."
Ragnorak was having a rather ordinary if somewhat boring day overall. The wizards were poking their heads where they didn't belong, as usual, and somehow managing to make taking care of other wizards money look difficult. The Ministry had insisted that all account managers had to be wizards and witches because having a non-human manager made them uncomfortable, hah. The managers couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag but there was little the goblins could do without proof that the human was doing something against wizarding law and consent from the person the account belonged to. Of course a wizard or witch could decide to have a goblin look after their personal accounts but not many were smart enough to do so.
He was startled out of his daily inner rant when the door to his office creaked open just a touch and a small form entered quickly before the door swung back shut. The young wizard looked just a touch nervous as he looked around before making his way up to Ragnorak's desk and surprising him with a light bow. "Good day sir. I was told to come here and talk to you about my account as I have never received my key and have never seen it."
"What is the name on the account?" It was a grave offense to keep a key away from the heir whether the Lord was still alive or not.
"My name is Harrison James Potter and I have lived with my muggle relatives ever since the death of my parents." Ragnorak could feel the rage building, it was bad enough to have an heir left without a way to access their funds but to have one of the wealthiest families with holdings in Gringotts not only left with muggles but also left without any true knowledge of the money under his control was something that could not be allowed.
"We shall definitely have to have a talk with the manager of your account." Ragnorak used the transfer parchment on his desk to summon the Potter manager. "Have a seat, it should not take long for him to get here and then we will get this oversight corrected."
The Potter man was a pathetic looking man that had been instilled just shortly after the Potter's had died, his predecessor was caught in one of the raids that occurred at the same time that the Potters were attacked. "You summoned me?" There was a sneer of superiority on his face that most wizards seemed to wear when they had to deal with someone inhuman.
"You are aware that the heir to the family that you manage the accounts of has never received a key and it isn't likely that he has received the monthly statements for his account either?" Ragnorak's voice left no room for the man to misunderstand the matter at hand and he puffed up in indignation.
"The boy is under the guardianship of Albus Dumbledore and he assured me that the boy was being kept up to date with everything that he needed to know about his account. I have done everything that I am required to do so you will not take that tone with me goblin!" The man's voice was high and he turned toward the door as if the matter was settled but stopped in shock when a child's voice met his ears.
"I have never met this 'Albus Dumbledore' of which you speak so I can personally vouch for the fact that you have not done your job in the least." The man turned slowly and was met with icy emerald eyes that took his breath away. "I am in need of school supplies and have no money to buy them with, I was only told by my aunt that I could get money here."
Ragnorak pinned the now sweating man to the spot with a glare. "You have violated the treaty the wizards forced upon the goblin nation by breaking your own laws on top of the laws of the bank. From this point forward you will have no access to the bank, all your monies and property shall be given to the affected party and the guards will make sure that you are placed in a holding cell to await your trial." The man barely had time to let out an undignified squeal as the guards seemed to almost appear in the empty doorway and proceeded to haul the man away. "I am very sorry that your first journey to the bank was so unpleasant but we will make sure that this does not happen again. Is there any wizard that you would like to hand over the managing of your accounts to?"
Harry looked around the office before focusing on the goblin. "Is there any way to have a goblin looking over my accounts? A wizard may just do the same thing if this 'Dumbledore' character shows up and I think that the people that run this entire bank would be better suited to taking care of an account."
Ragnorak smiled and noted that the boy did not lean back like most of his kind were wont to do. "Yes, it is not often done but with your consent a goblin may become your account manager, do you have one in mind?"
"I have yet to meet very many goblins but the one that sent me to you was rather nice about it, I believe that his nameplate said 'Goldbrog'." Harry would have liked to have Griphook run his accounts but there would be no way to explain how he knew the goblin that ran one of the carts.
Ragnorak made a notation that let Goldbrog know his new status and turned back to the young boy. "It is done and you will be receiving statements as he gets your accounts back up to our standards and if you will simply fill out this form and allow a single drop of blood at the bottom we will rekey your vaults and issue you a Gringotts card at our expense for the oversight."
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